Sterre relocates

[sterre]

Congratulations on your apartment .

 

I've heard that they fry everything in Scotland. Is it really as bad as the stories go?

 

Thanks!

 

I haven't seen anywhere selling someone unusual fried yet and so far the food has been pretty good. We haven't been eating out a ton, but when we have, we've noticed that it's way more veggie-friendly than most places we've visited or lived, which is great.

[SpecialSundae]

Congratulations on your apartment .

I've heard that they fry everything in Scotland. Is it really as bad as the stories go?

I thought that rumour was about America?

Food in Scotland is not bad, some of it is world class.

[Gaming_Jeweler]

I thought that rumour was about America?

Food in Scotland is not bad, some of it is world class.

Lol, kinda depends on where you live. When I lived in the country, I had fried foods occasionally. After I moved to NYC, I had fried foods daily. The main difference for me was how far I lived from fast food restaurants. I wasn't going to drive an hour for a burger, but I will drive 15 minutes.

[SpecialSundae]

Lol, kinda depends on where you live. When I lived in the country, I had fried foods occasionally. After I moved to NYC, I had fried foods daily. The main difference for me was how far I lived from fast food restaurants. I wasn't going to drive an hour for a burger, but I will drive 15 minutes.

It was a joke. I've been to the States a few times.

I think a lot of people in Scotland get fed up with rumours that food here is generally inedible when it's so far from the truth.

[Gaming_Jeweler]

It was a joke. I've been to the States a few times.

I think a lot of people in Scotland get fed up with rumours that food here is generally inedible when it's so far from the truth.

Oh. I guess sarcasm doesn't translate well for me. I don't take any offense to it . I grew up southern, so everything my grandmother cooked for me was either fried, pickled, or homegrown. I just think it's sad the amount of fried foods we have in the US that are unhealthy.

I don't know much about Scottish foods, but if it's anything like the Irish food my in - laws introduced me to, I'd probably love it.

[sterre]

I thought that rumour was about America?

Food in Scotland is not bad, some of it is world class.

 

Yeah, so far the only thing I've noticed that I didn't like is the cottage cheese here, which is weird compared to what I'm used to (or at least Tesco's fat-free cottage cheese is weird). There also doesn't seem to be much tofu to be had, but we've just been shopping in small places downtown (and we're also coming from Japan, where there's tofu everywhere so our baseline is a bit off) and that is made up for by the abundance of lentils.

 

Lol, kinda depends on where you live. When I lived in the country, I had fried foods occasionally. After I moved to NYC, I had fried foods daily. The main difference for me was how far I lived from fast food restaurants. I wasn't going to drive an hour for a burger, but I will drive 15 minutes.

 

I thought it was mostly the South that was known for deep fried things, but yeah, I guess it really depends on whether one is talking about buying things in a restaurant/fast food place or making them at home.

 

Oh. I guess sarcasm doesn't translate well for me. I don't take any offense to it . I grew up southern, so everything my grandmother cooked for me was either fried, pickled, or homegrown. I just think it's sad the amount of fried foods we have in the US that are unhealthy.

I don't know much about Scottish foods, but if it's anything like the Irish food my in - laws introduced me to, I'd probably love it.

 

Sarcasm is always hard in text, imo.

[sterre]

Week 3, Day 3

 
Quest 1: Yoga
No yoga on day 3. (2/5 yoga sessions this week)
 
Quest 2: Moving around

So Tuesday night when I was taking off my socks, I noticed that all the walking had produced some small cuts on the back of one of my heels. It's not that my shoes are uncomfortable, but I guess after hours and hours of walking they become that way. As a result I took it easy. I still had to walk to the letting agency because they needed to photocopy our UK visas, which we hadn't scanned. I walked over there in a leisurely manner and stopped in to look at a park and an art gallery for a bit though so it was fine even if it was still an hour of walking. (3/7 walks or runs this week)
 
Quest 3: Vegan day
Lunch was vegan. I went to the veg*an baked potato place and remembered to avoid butter (and then the guy said there was vegan butter so I got that), then I had another snobby Joe a bit later, but still approximately lunch time. (3/7 vegan meals)

 

Life Quest: Take care of business

Most of the paperwork for our application for the new place is basically done. We have to stay at our current place an extra week longer than we expected, but it's basically all done. The letting agency ended up getting two character references from me because the first person I asked didn't say anything for nearly a day, but oh well.

 

I got some more knitting done too. I think just one or two dozen rows, but the rows are getting really long so it's going a bit slower now. It will probably be a day or two before I'm done.

 

 

Today, I've already tidied up our flat a bit (took out some garbage, cleaned the kitchen). I might try for a run in the afternoon and get some yoga done. Otherwise, the plan is just knitting and maybe folding some laundry.

[Tanktimus the Encourager]

Sounds like a good day. Do you think the new place is pretty well locked in?

[sterre]

Sounds like a good day. Do you think the new place is pretty well locked in?

 

I think they're supposed to reject us within two days if they're going to reject us, but instead they confirmed a move-in date and sent us a copy of the lease this morning. So I assume that means it's locked in? We still have to put down the rest of the deposit and all, but they don't expect us to do that until just before we sign the lease (which isn't supposed to happen until the day we take over the place apparently).

 

If it was Canada, I would be nervous because we haven't put down the deposit or signed the papers, but apparently this is how it's done here.

[SpecialSundae]

Biggest selection of tofu in Edinburgh is probably at Real Foods.

[sterre]

Biggest selection of tofu in Edinburgh is probably at Real Foods.

 

Ah, yeah, I saw that place when I went to look for yarn. I'll have to make a point to check it out a bit more while we're still downtown, though I'm hoping that there's at least a little bit of tofu to be found near our new flat too.

[SpecialSundae]

Most big supermarkets have a small selection but it's less popular than Quorn and the like.

[sterre]

Most big supermarkets have a small selection but it's less popular than Quorn and the like.

 

Oh, quorn is one of those things I've heard of, but never tried. I read about it once when I was living in Canada and noticed that it seemed to be popular in the UK, but I'd totally forgotten about it until you mentioned it.

 

I wouldn't mind giving that a try. Or some seitan, for that matter (in Canada, I could only find it pre-flavoured, which isn't really how I like to cook with something that's new to me).

 

I also saw veggie haggis in the small Tesco near our place. I was sort of tempted to buy it because it seems so random and I have no idea what it tastes like (I've had real haggis once in my life (obviously before I was vegetarian) and recall it being not too bad). My partner vetoed that idea though.

[SpecialSundae]

Why the veto on veggie haggis? It's awesome and actually pretty healthy (veggies, oats, lentils, spices and some fat). It's really popular here.

I really like Quorn. There are lots of varieties and the macro profile is good.

[sterre]

Why the veto on veggie haggis? It's awesome and actually pretty healthy (veggies, oats, lentils, spices and some fat). It's really popular here.

I really like Quorn. There are lots of varieties and the macro profile is good.

 

I think he's decided that it's gimmicky, probably overpriced and not very tasty.

 

I suspect it's probably tasty.

[SpecialSundae]

I think he's decided that it's gimmicky, probably overpriced and not very tasty.

I suspect it's probably tasty.

You're right. It's tasty.

[Tanktimus the Encourager]

Into what is vegetarian haggis stuffed? A Tofu sheep's bladder?

[sterre]

You're right. It's tasty.

 

I'll definitely try it at some point. Even if it's when he has to travel somewhere else (or just when he's busy and doesn't want any part of preparing dinner... mwahaha).

 

Into what is vegetarian haggis stuffed? A Tofu sheep's bladder?

I'm not sure what the commercial versions are stuffed into. I've seen recipes where someone has wrapped cabbage leaves around it and some others where it's just baked.

[sterre]

Week 3, Day 4

 
Quest 1: Yoga
No yoga on day 4. (2/5 yoga sessions this week)
 
Quest 2: Moving around

It turned out that I decided to be very restful. So restful, in fact, that my only venture out of the house was to the store nearby. I think my feet needed the break though. (3/7 walks or runs this week)
 
Quest 3: Vegan day
I think I failed to eat any vegan meals. (3/7 vegan meals)

 

Life Quest: Take care of business

Finished my scarf!

 

Yeah, so basically, instead of doing a variety of things, I just stayed at home and worked on my scarf. In principle, I should finish weaving in the ends and maybe block the scarf, but I don't mind a bit of an unfinished look in my own scarves (at least for a while, I'll probably fix it up more). I'll try taking a picture, but I never remember to do it when there's some good lighting in this room.

 

Week 3, Day 5

 
Quest 1: Yoga
Did yoga for runners. (3/5 yoga sessions this week)
 
Quest 2: Moving around

I went for a run! It was a good run in the sense that the view on parts of the path was awesome and I actually went out and ran, but a bad run in the sense that my shoe lace kept coming untied, I had to walk part of the way because there was a hill that was unexpectedly long (I'm pretty sure it went on for a kilometer) and I just couldn't do it anymore and I had to stop a few times for traffic. I also stopped twice more just for fun (once to admire the view, once to read an information sign). It's definitely a challenging running route for someone like me who isn't accustomed to running up hills, but it's worth it. (4/7 walks or runs this week)
 
Quest 3: Vegan day
I had hummus and pita for lunch. (4/7 vegan meals)

 

Life Quest: Take care of business

I read the lease agreement... and that's all.

 

Today, I need to start taking out money from the ATM for our deposit and first month's rent (both my bank accounts have daily withdraw limits so I can't take it all out at once) and we're probably going to go shopping for bedding and stuff for our new place today.

 

Our plan for moving is basically to sign the documents and get the keys on Wednesday, take a cab with most of our stuff to the new place after that, then come back to our current place for one night to tidy the place up and maybe enjoy one more night of living downtown before checking out in the morning (basically because we're paying for it anyway). I figured that it might be good to get bedding before we move so we can move that stuff in the cab instead of having to haul it to our new place on the bus (or, you know, pay for a cab twice).

[SpecialSundae]

Into what is vegetarian haggis stuffed? A Tofu sheep's bladder?

Synthetic casings.

[Tanktimus the Encourager]

 

 

Quest 3: Vegan day

I think I failed to eat any vegan meals. (3/7 vegan meals)

 

 

I don't see the failure here...

[Briniel]

Congrats on getting the new place! I hope the move will go well, but you're so organized I don't have any worries. Also, good for you for taking a day off.  Sometimes, that's excactly the right thing to do. Do you have pictures of the scarf? I'm curious I'm super impressed by all the stuff you got done (yay, running!) and I hope the rest of your week went well

[sterre]

I don't see the failure here...

 

It is a failure when veganism is a goal.

 

Congrats on getting the new place! I hope the move will go well, but you're so organized I don't have any worries. Also, good for you for taking a day off.  Sometimes, that's excactly the right thing to do. Do you have pictures of the scarf? I'm curious I'm super impressed by all the stuff you got done (yay, running!) and I hope the rest of your week went well

 

Thanks! I'm also a bit amused that you think I'm organized (I really don't feel like I am). I'll try to take pictures of the scarf tonight.

[Briniel]

Thanks! I'm also a bit amused that you think I'm organized (I really don't feel like I am).

 

You are! You have plans and stuff

I get what you mean though, when I came back this challenge someone said they missed my positive energy and I was like "what is this? I possess positive energy? Awesome!!!!" I would ramble on with psychological facts about self- and oustide-perception but I'll just patiently wait for those scarf-pictures instead

[spooky]

You can make seitan if you have the patience! Then you can flavor it however you like Maybe an experiment best saved for when you have a lot of time (i.e. not now )

 

Also fellow Rebel Sarah Barr has a great veggie haggis recipe she shared...

 

 

Haggis Sandwiches (Sarah Barr)

Ingredients for the Haggis:

• 1 handful rolled oats (porridge oats)

• 1 handful oatmeal (the tiny grainy stuff)

• 1 handful chopped mixed nuts (check the baking aisle or chop up peanuts, hazelnuts and walnuts)

• 1 tablespoon of assorted seeds (pumpkin, sunflower, etc.)

• 1 large white onion, diced fairly coarsely

• 1 tsp olive oil and 1 tsp butter, for frying

• 1 x 400g can kidney beans, drained and chopped

• 1 x box of white or chestnut mushrooms, finely minced

• What else was it?

• Whisky, put some whisky in it (optional - about 1 tbsp)

• 1 tsp vegemite/non-branded yeast extract (for a tasty meaty flavour)

• Ah, and one medium sized carrot, finely minced.

• And some spices:

  • 1 tsp smoked paprika (or regular paprika if you must)

  • 1 tsp black pepper (it is spicy)

  • six or eight glugs of tabasco sauce

  • 1 heaped tsp mixed herbs

Ingredients for sandwiches:

• Bread

• Brie or something

• Cranberry sauce, or peri peri sauce, or caramelised onion chutney

• Wild rocket (or chilled out rocket), to taste

• Baby spinach leaves, to taste

• A couple of slices of nice vine tomatoes

• A couple of hearty slices of cucumber.

Method:

• Preheat oven to 200 degrees C; grease a deep baking tin and set on side.

• Fry off the onion in the butter and oil until translucent and browning in the bottom of a large saucepan.

• Add your mushrooms, kidney beans, nuts and seeds. Cook until the mushrooms have released most of their juices and it’s fairly dry again.

• Take off heat, dump the rest of your haggis ingredients in (mix in your flavouring ingredients first so they go through nice and evenly)

• Return to heat and mix well so everything is combined and it’s starting to look a bit offal. Takes about three minutes of mixing.

• Add to baking tin, brush with a bit of oil so it doesn’t burn.

• Bake for 20 minutes, until going golden brown on top.

• Slice up. Keeps in fridge for a week, keeps in freezer for eternity.

• Take your haggis, apply to bread.

• Apply brie to haggis, allow to melt (assist this in the microwave if necessary)

• Apply chutney to brie, shielding the salad from the heat, then add the salad on top.

• Add more bread.

• Stuff into face.

VARIATIONS: You could swap the oatmeal for couscous or polenta, I suppose, if it’s tricky to get hold of. You could add half a leek when you’re frying the onion. You could use lentils instead of rolled oats (canned lentils/precooked red lentils). A nice bit of Isle of Mull cheddar wouldn’t go amiss, and stilton is good with haggis too.